In 2001, the value of a share of Enron was peaked at $90 a share. By the end of
2001, its value had plummeted to 60 cents a share. Many stockholders were wondering how this could've happened. According to all the company's legal filings per the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, the
company was doing just fine. Buying Enron stock was a safe investment. However, certain
information was withheld in what would
be a severe violation of SEC Rules. Enron was hiding massive amounts of debt from
shareholders. The truth was being hidden. Whenever the truth is hidden, only a
few people benefit. Enron CEO, Ken Lay and a few others high-ranking executives who had
knowledge of the debt, continued to make large sums of money. However, the truth
always has a way of coming out. When it was discovered what Lay and others were
doing, they were brought to justice. Sadly, many people lost a great deal of
money simply because a few people decided that it was too inconvenient to
reveal the truth.
The reality is that truth can have a shocking
effect on us. However, we need truth desperately no matter how inconvenient. Growth comes through the revelation of truth.Growth comes through truth. During the mid 2000's in
the Atlanta Public Schools, some leaders decided and some teachers agreed that it was
necessary to conceal the truth. Those individuals have been brought to justice
for their actions. However, just as the shareholders of Enron stock lost something, so did the students and families who were denied precious feedback. When the
truth is concealed opportunities are lost. Allow me to explain. When it is
determined that a student is not progressing in terms of their reading skills by the end of grade 3, action must be taken. Seemingly, as a result of the limited and misinterpreted data on retention, it would appear
that the best thing to do would be to advance that student to the next grade
while continuing to work on improving reading skills. This plan sounds wonderful. It is the plan that most schools utilize regarding reading skills. However, it is a fact that since the implementation of No Child Left Behind reading scores have remained flat. That means that a majority of students who post low reading scores in third grade
never close the gap by the time they graduate from high school. This is unacceptable! Once those reading scores were known, what were the other alternatives? We will never know because that opportunity has been lost with the passage of time.
It is my contention that truth is veiled far
too often in education. This is done with good intentions, but there is life changing power when the pure and honest truth is revealed. As a result of the lack of pure truth, the growth is not as widespread as we
would like. Just recently Arne Duncan lamented that the US is falling behind in terms of graduation and dropout rates. It will always be true that there is growth
through the revelation of truth because truth is feedback. Feedback serves as a GPS. Additionally, truth demands
action. Just like a GPS device, the truth will continue to highlight
the issue until the necessary adjustments are made to address the issue. And
once the necessary adjustments are made, then and only then, growth can be experienced.
I don't agree with highlighting a problem
without offering a solution. Therefore I offer this solution:
Decisions about student stratification and placement should never be made based on emotions and unproven beliefs. They should be made based on facts and never limited to one-size-fits-all thinking.
Breaking this pattern of behavior in our public schools is most difficult. It takes a leader to challenge the status quo. It's not easy to question the current method of mixed ability classrooms. It's not easy to propose a 5 day school week for chronically struggling reading/math student and 4 days for others. While these ideas seem extreme, the truth still remains and it is knocking at the door demanding action. True leaders need to stand and deliver the 100% pure and uncut truth because there is growth through truth.
Decisions about student stratification and placement should never be made based on emotions and unproven beliefs. They should be made based on facts and never limited to one-size-fits-all thinking.
Breaking this pattern of behavior in our public schools is most difficult. It takes a leader to challenge the status quo. It's not easy to question the current method of mixed ability classrooms. It's not easy to propose a 5 day school week for chronically struggling reading/math student and 4 days for others. While these ideas seem extreme, the truth still remains and it is knocking at the door demanding action. True leaders need to stand and deliver the 100% pure and uncut truth because there is growth through truth.
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